Bound by a rare trade: inside a traditional bookbinder's workshop

From an old regional Victorian schoolhouse Sonya Macdonald carefully makes and repairs books, applying the same techniques used more than a century ago by masters of the trade. E-readers may be the new paperback, but she says there is still a place for a beautifully handmade book.

From a young age, Sonya's grandmother encouraged her to follow in the footsteps of her uncle, a traditional book binder who had passed away before having his own family.

It was some years before she eventually succumbed to the idea of practicing this rare craft and started a business called Sago on Tuesdays.

The creaky wooden floor of her bookbindery - an old rural school at Napoleons near Ballarat - is soon to be re-enforced with concrete so that it can hold a large 160-year-old guillotine from Bristol in England.

"The skills we use were used 100 years ago and those items are still around, so they're skills that are proven," Sonya says.

From new artist and poet books to re-covering and repairing old or precious books, each of her creations are hand-sewn, glued and pressed.

She says book binders, and people practicing other rare trades, make items that will outlive their creators.

"The things we're making are functional before they're beautiful, in fact they're beautiful because they're made with care, but ultimately they're meant to be used and used for a lifetime."

Sonya Macdonald is one of many handmade crafters who will be exhibiting at Pop Up Shop Ballarat from 30 November - 9 December. Listen to the audio to find out more about Sonya's traditional bookbinding.